Feed band separator for strip feeding mechanism



C. R. MABON July 23, 1940.

FEED BAND SEPARATOR FOR STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 28, 1938 Carl E. flazon c. R. MABON July 23, 1940.

FEED BAND SEPARATOR FOR STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1938 5Sheets-Sheet 2 C. R. MABON July 23, 1940.

FEED BAND SEPARATOR FOR STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 3 1 121114271307; Carl flafion Patented July 23, 1940UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEED BAND SEPARATOR FOR STRIP FEEDINGMECHANISM Carl R. Mabon, Niagara Falls, N. Y.,

assignor to Application June 28, 1938, Serial No. 216,374

16 Claims.

This invention relates to the operation of feeding record strips of themanifold record type through a writing machine or the like, and moreparticularly relates to methods of and means for separating from therecord strip during the feeding operation, that part of the strip knownas the feed band by which the strip as a whole is propelled through themachine.

An object of the invention is to separate efficiently the feed bandportion from the record receiving band portion of one or more strips ina manifold assembly of superposed record strips.

Another object is to produce the separation in such a manner that theedges resulting from the separation are of suitable smoothness and nottorn or cut out of line, and in such a manner that the separatedportions of the assembly are not subjected to other mutilation orentanglement.

The invention accordingly includes the methods of operating, theconstruction of the elements and their combination, and the arrangementof parts, which will be exemplified in the illustrations hereinafterdescribed and the scope of the application of which will be indicated inthe claims.

The nature and objects of the invention will be understood more fully byreference to the following detailed description together with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tabulating machine having one form ofstrip feeding mechanism and feed band separator.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on line 22, Fig. 1,showing a side view of the strip feeding mechanism and separator.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the feed bandseparator of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged'sectional View of the Fig. 2 separator taken onthe line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, partly broken away, taken on line 5--5,Fig. 4, showing means for locking the feeder and separator unit.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a manifold type of record strip assemblyof a form adapted for use in the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an elevation, showing a modification of the separator of Figs.1 to 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a selective separator element.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, corresponding with a portion of Fig. 4 andshowing the Fig. 8 separator element mounted therein.

Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views of different modifications of aarator.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of a detail, taken on line I2l2, Fig.11.

Figs. 13 and 14 are plan and side views, respec- 3 tively, of a sheartype of separator.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show a tabulating machine I ofconventional form, arranged to feed the manifold assembly 2 of paperrecord strips, shown diagrammatically in 10 dot-dash lines, from thesupply pile 4 to the receiving pile 5. The manifold assembly 2 passesaround the platen 6, opposite which are located the character tabulatingpins 1 for selectively impressing the desired record on the assembly 162, in well known manner.

Strip guiding apparatus of the kind indicated by the dash lines,described more fully in my Patent No. 2,077,428, is preferably providedto guide the strip assembly 2 from the pile 4 to 20 the machine and fromthe machine to the pile 5.

Fig. 6 shows in more detail, the manifold assembly 2, as an example .ofa form suitable for use in the machine I. Between each pair of adjacentrecord strips 8, or under each record strip, is provided a transferstrip 9, or other suitable means for impressing the record in duplicateform on each strip below the top.

A weakened severance line i0 is provided in each record strip 8 betweenthe feed band II and the record receiving band l2. The line III is shownas made up of a series of narrow dashiike perforations placed end to endclosely adjacent to each other, but it will be understood that any othersuitable form of weakened line may be used which weakens the stripsufliciently to facilitate easy severance of the bands along oppositesides of the line.

The weakened lines 10 of the superposed record strips 8 are inregistration with each other between the feed band portion II and therecord receiving band portion of the assembly.

Each transfer strip 9 has an edge l'3, preferably approximately inregistration with or just short of registration with the severance linesI0, 45 to avoid interleaving of the transfer strip between the feedbands I l, and to facilitate separation of the feed bands from therecord receiving bands without interference of the transfer strips withthe separating operation.

The equally spaced perforations l4 extending completely through the feedband portion H, are arranged in a continuous row parallel to theseverance lines in and are adapted to mesh with the portion of the Fig.3 sepfeed pins I5 of the feeding mechanism I6, Figs. 2 and 4.

The record strip 8, if desired, may be arranged in forms ll of equallength and severable from the contiguous forms H at the weakenedtransverse severance lines I8. The forms H in superposed strips areplaced in registration with each other so that the resulting packs offorms may be piled one over the other by folding the assembly 2 on linesl8 in zig-zag relation, as shown. The staples |9 or other suitablesecuring means may be provided near the middle of the severance lines l8for securing the strips 8, 9, together arid for maintaining the forms inthe desired regis tration for manifolding purposes. The staples l9 thusprevent lateral displacement of the transfer strips 9 relatively to therecord strips 3 and prevent encroachment of the transfer strips 9 on thespace in registration with the severance lines l0 where they mightinterfere with the severance operation as referred to above.

Additional staples 20 may be provided at regular intervals along thefeed band portion ll between certain of the perforations I4 tosupplement the staples |9 in maintaining the desired registration of therecord strips with each other and to increase the compactness andstiffness of the feed band portion II when it has been separated fromthe record receiving band portion |2, thus reducing the tendency of thefeed bands to become entangled after severance and loss of thestiffening effect contributed thereto by the record receiving bands.

The strip feeding mechanism or pin feed unit l6, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, issupported on three parallel rods 2|, 22 and 23, which in turn aresupported at their opposite ends by the brackets 24 and 25,respectively. Rod 2| serves as a rotatable shaft having bearings inbrackets 24, 25, while rods 22, 23 may be held fast in position;Suitable power driving means, not shown, may be provided to rotate oneend of the shaft 2|. The pair of spur gears or sprockets 26, Fig. 4 andFig. 2, on opposite sides respectively of the frame 28, have bearings onthe shaft 22, permitting the gears to rotate freely thereon. A similarpair of spur gears 21 (only one shown, Fig. 2) are provided on the shaft2| and are positioned on opposite sides respectively of the frame 28. Aflat side 30 of shaft 2| engages a corresponding flat bearing in gears21, so that the gears 21 may be rotated by the drive shaft 2| and mayslide axially thereon when the feeder I6 is being adjusted transverselyof machine The loosely linked chain loop 29 is looped around the twopairs of gears 26, 21 and is meshed therewith, so that the drive gears21 may feed the chain freely around gears 26 as idlers.

The collar 3| around the shaft 23, is freely slidable axially thereon,but is rigidly fastened'to the frame 28. The lock lever 32, rotatable onthe pivot 33 in the recess 34 in collar 3|, Fig. 5, may be depressed atits outer end by the finger of an operator to force the cam 35 intofrictional engagement with the shaft 23 to lock the frame 26 and thestrip feed mechanism l6 rigidly in place, to prevent movement thereofaxially of the shaft 23 and transversely of machine I, after the feedmechanism 6 has been adjusted to its proper position transversely ofmachine A projecting end of each main link 36 of the chain 29 carries afeed pin I5, so that the row of feed pins IS in the upper span of thechain 29 is adapted to mesh simultaneously with a corresponding row ofperforations M in the feed bands N, Fig. 6, and to propel the feed bandsand cohsequently the strips 8 as a whole in the feed direction,indicated by the arrow, Fig. 3, parallel with the severance lines In.

The guide plate 31, Figs. 2 and 4, is fastened rigidly to the top offrame 28, and at its upper side has a guide surface upon whichtheprojecting ends of the links 36 ride. The plate 31 thus limits thetransverse path of the pins l5 and thereby provides an abutment forlimiting the movement of the feed bands toward the abutment in adirection normal to the main surfaces of the feed bands, thus serving asa lower guide for the feed bands being fed by the pins |5 of chain 29.

The plate 31, at its left hand edge, Fig. 4, supports a bracket 38,having the pivot 39 on which is hinged the arm 40 which at its free endhas the long guide plate 4|, positioned opposite the guide plate 31, andhas a guide surface opposite that of guide plate 31. The plate 4| thusprovides an abutment for limiting movement of the feed bands toward theabutment in a direction normal to their main surfaces and for guidingthe feed bands in the feed direction. The slot 42 in plate 4| isparallel to the feed direction and provides a clearance space for theunobstructed travel of the feed pins |5 along the slot in the feeddirection. The leaf spring 43 is secured rigidly at one end to the arm40, the other end being tensioned to normally press against the bar 44,to urge the free end of arm 40 and the guide plate 4| toward the main ormajor surfaces of the feed bands being fed between plates 31, 4|,thereby maintaining the feed bands in proper mesh relation with the feedpins i5. The guide plates 31, 4| and the guide surface of each plate aresymmetrically disposed with respect to the feed bands fed therebetween.The free ends 45 of the guide plates are diverged away from the courseof travel of the feed bands, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide suitablysmooth streamlined guide surfaces at the opposite sides of the feedbands H. The slotted upturned ends 45 of the guide plate 4| also serveto make room for the unobstructed passage of the feed pins l5 into andout of the slot 42 in plate 4| when the guide plate 4| or the slottherein is shorter than the span of chain 29 meshed with the feed bands.

In accordance with the present invention, a record strip assembly of thekind shown in Fig. 6, when substantially straight laterally from edge toedge, for example when each strip is in a flat condition, as shown inFig. 3, may have its feed band portion progressively separated from itsrecord receiving band portion |2 while feeding the strips, by the methodof applying to a part of each strip in close proximity to the severanceline therein, a gradually increasing force progressively along theseverance line and in such a direction as to tend to deflect that partof the strip from lateral alignment with the main surface of the feedband of the strip. This method requires that the feed bands be limitedin movement in a direction normal to their main surfaces, in order thatthe deflecting force may be suitably applied to the part of each stripin the vicinity of the severance line. It is also preferable to have afeeding force applied to the strips at a point at least somewhat inadvance of the separator, so that thefeed bands are kept under tensionin the zone where separation takes place. The different forms ofseparators of the present invention are adapted to operate according tothis method.

In the case of the Fig. 3 form of separator, the

bracket 46 is rigidly supported from the outer marginal portion of theguide plate 4| at the edge of slot 42, and has a hole at its outer endthrough which the separator needle 41 projects,- the needle being lockedin fixed position by the set screw 48. The separator needle 41ispositioned laterally adjacent to the guide plates 31, 4|, and islaterally out of alignment with the row of feed pins l5, propelling thefeed bands, 8. short spacing being provided laterally between the needle41 and the guide plates 31, 4| to aid the separating operation and toprevent the clogging of the strips 8 or of particles therefrom betweenthe needle and the guide plates.

From the bracket 46 the needle 41 extends into and through the course oftravel of the strips 8, the needle being oblique to guide plates 31 and4| and intersecting the strips obliquely at the severance lines I0therein, so that the needle 41 and the guide surface of the plate 4|have an acute angle therebetween, pointing in the feed direction, asindicated by the arrow, Fig. 3. The plane of the acute angle ispreferably normal to the guide surfaces of plates 31, 4| and to the mainsurfaces of the feed bands, and includes the feed direction, but may belaterally inclined slightly.

The described inclination of the separator needle 41 is in such adirection that when the strips at the zone of separation are tensionedand moved by the force propelling them in the feed direction, the needleapplies to a part of each strip 8 in close proximity to the severanceline of the strip, a gradually increasing force progressing along theseverance line and tending to deflect that part of the strip fromlateral alignment with the main surface of the feed band whose movementnormal to the main surface of the feed band is limited by the guideplate 4|, serving as an abutment against which the feed band is thrustby the deflecting force applied to the strip 8 by the needle 41. Theforce tending to deflect each strip 8 in the vicinity of the severanceline I0, progressively increases as the feed band advances in the feeddirection, thus causing the strip to separate progressively along itsseverance line l0 into component bands I2, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Since the separator needle 41, is cylindrical in shape, the edge thereoffunctioning in the separating operation is a cylindrical surface and maythus be regarded as being relatively blunt or dull, in comparison withthe cutting edge of a knife. It has been found that the relativelyblunt, smooth edge presented by the needle 41 efficiently separates thefeed bands II from the record receiving bands l2 along the severancelines In, and leaves the edges resulting from the separation relativelysmooth and free from objectionable tearing, jamming or cutting out ofline, or other mutilation.

It might be considered possible that a knife could be substituted forthe needle 41, but experience indicates that the results obtained bysuch a substitute are usually undependable and unsatisfactory because ofthe tendency of the knife to cut into the bands on either side of theseverance line, thereby losing the benefit of the weakened severanceline and imposing so much resistance on the advancing strip as to jam,tear, tangle, or otherwise mutilate or objectionably operate on thebands of the record strip. Furthermore, the needle is relativelyinexpensive and requires no'sharpening to render it serviceable or tomaintain it in satisfactory operation. Among the advantages of the formof separator described herein is the fact that the present-separatoravoids the use of relatively high pressure rollers. or high pressureplates, usually required to hold the manifold strips when separation isaccomplished by cutting operations.

By mounting the separator needle 41 on the hinged arm 40, it may bereadily withdrawn from the zone of action, as when removing orinstalling the record strip supply from the feed mechanism l6, by simplylifting the arm 40 by rotation thereof on the pivot 39. The relation ofthe needle 41 to the guide plate 4| may thus be left undisturbed.

After detachment of the feed bands II from the record receiving bandsl2, the relatively narrow feed bands lose the stiffening effect of therelatively wide bands l2 previously connected therewith, andconsequently sometimes have a tendency to drop down into or to becomeentangled with the feed mechanism It or with some other part of themachine, or with the record strips, before the feed bands can be fed toa point clear of the machine.

In order to overcome this difliculty, and to aid the discharge of thedetached feed bands I I from the feed mechanism, the deflector plate 50is provided with an upwardly convexed streamlined surface opposed to thelower surface of the up turned end 45 of the guide 4|. The path of thedetached feed bands II is thus kept under control between the opposedsurfaces of elements 45, 50, the feed bands being deflected upwardly andout of mesh with the feed pins l5 and away from the record receivingbands l2. The notch 5| in the lower edge of the deflector 50 provides apassage through which the outer ends of the feed pins l5 may pass freelywhile the feed bands ii are guided out of mesh with the feed pins.Suitable means for securing the feed bands together, such as the staples2|), referred to above, serve to keep the individual feed bands fromspreading out from each other and becoming entangled, and also serve tostiffen the assembly of superposed feed bands into a unitary memberwhich lends itself to more convenient control while being fed, and ismore easily discharged from the machine Use of the deflector 50 inconnection with the Fig. 3 separator is preferable in cases where thefeed bands do not free themselves readily from the feeder I6, and incertain other cases, but it will be understood that its use is optional.The deflector 50 also may be employed optionally for similar reasons inconnection with the other separators described herein.

The construction and operation of the 7 separator is similar to that ofFig. 3, except that the needle 41 is supported at its lower end in ahole in the collar shaped support 52 which is fast to the frame 28. Theset screw 48 locks the needle 41 rigidly in its proper position in thesupport 52.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a selective form of separator, adapted to separatethe feed band from the record receiving band in only a selected numberof strips in a manifold assembly. Fig. 9 shows a part of the elementsillustrated in the upper right hand portion of Fig. 4, with the needle53 substituted for the needle 41 of Fig. 4, and with the superposedrecord strips 8 shown in cross-seo-' tion, between the guide plates 31,4|. The lower end of needle 53 has a foot 54 projecting laterallytherefrom and laterally of the feed direction. The set screw 48 permitsof a selective axial ad edge of guide plate 4|.

justrnent of the needle 53 and holds the needle with its foot 54 at theproper selected level and position for its operation between the sets ofstrips 55 and 56. The strips 55 above foot 54 are selected to have theirfeed bands separated from their record receiving bands while the strips56, below foot 54, are to be left without disturbing the connectionsbetween the feed and record receiving bands thereof. The inclination andlocation of needle 53 is similar to that of needle 41, except for theselective adjustment referred to above. The foot 54 is preferablyflattened to adapt it for easy insertion between adjacent strips 8, andhas its flattened surfaces substantially parallel with the strips 8.

When the strips 8 are propelled in the feed direction pastthe needle 53,only the selected strips 55 are separated into their respective bandsl2, while the strips 56 remain intact without disturbance to therelation of their bands.

The separator of Fig. 10 is similar to that of Fig. 3, except that theguide plate 4| has a guide ear 51 extending laterally over the course ofthe severance lines in the strips being fed by the feed mechanism.

The lower surface of the car 51 forms a lateral extension of the guidesurface of plate 4|. The slot 58 is parallel to the feed direction andmakes room for needle 41 to project obliquely therethrough with aclearance space between the needleand the guide surface of the ear toaid the separating operation and to prevent clogging of the strips 8 orof particles therefrom between the needle and the guide car. It will beseen that when the strips move in the feed direction and needle 41thrusts the strip 8 upward toward plate 4| and ear 51, the guide surfaceof ear 51 provides an abutment laterally on both the feed hand side ofthe needle and the record receiving band side, as compared with the Fig.3 guide plate 4|, providing an abutment on only the feed hand side ofthe needle.

The Fig. 11 separator is somewhat like that of Fig. 10 but differstherefrom in having the needle 41 supported directly on the upturned end45 of the plate 4|, the needle being held fast thereto under the head ofscrew 59. A groove 60, Fig. 12, may be provided in the upper surface ofthe car 51 to hold the needle 41 rigidly in the desired line extendingthrough the course of travel of the severance lines l0, and in thedesired plane normal to the strips 8. In the Fig. 11 separator, theacute angle between the needle 41 and the lower surface of car 51 wherethe needle projects into the path of the record strips, may be adjustedas desired, by varying the angle of bend between the plate 4| and itsbent up end 45. A looped end 6| may be provided for needle 41 to serveas a handle therefor. The operation of the Fig. 11 separator is similarto that of Fig. 10.

The shear type of separator, shown in Figs. 13, 14, may be used in placeof that of Fig. 3. The arm 62 projects laterally from the upper end ofplate 4| and extends along the laterally adjacent The fissure 63separates plate 4| from arm 62, and is positioned approximately over andin alignment with the severance lines between the feed bands II andrecord receiving bands l2 fed past the separator. The free end 64 of arm62 serves as a separator element, in the form of a preferably flat shearplate having an approximately straight shearing edge which is inclinedrelatively to the laterally adjacent guide plates 4|, 31, theinclination being similar to that between the separator needle 41 andguide plates 4|, 31, and for similar reasons. The shape of theconnection between the shear plate 64 and the main body of plate 4| isrelatively unimportant, provided it presents a suitably stream-linedsurface to allow of free passage'thereby of the separated portions ofthe strips. In theform shown, guide plate 4| and shear plate 64 areadapted to be made from a single sheet of metal, thus simplifying theconstruction and reducing its cost.

At the point 65 where the shear plate 64 is in closest lateral proximityto guide plate 4|, the spacing therebetween is made sufficient to avoidundesirable clogging of the strips or of particles from the strips inthe spacing.

The upper surface of shear plate 64 is preferably parallel with thetransverse dimension of the guide surface of plate 4|, so that theintersection of the respective planes of these two surfaces constitutesa line transverse to guide plate 4|, shear plate 64, and the feeddirection, at approximately the point 65 where shearing takes place. Theshearing edge of plate 64 in the vicinity of the shearing point 65 neednot be sharp, but is preferably blunt and smooth, as in the case of theneedle 41, Fig. 3. The feed bands II are guided in the arrow direction,Fig. 14, by the lower surface of plate 4| as in Fig. 3, while the recordreceiving bands I2 are directed in a course above the upper surface ofshear plate 64. The shear plate 64 thus extends through the course ofthe strips being fed and is inclined to the guide surface of plate 4| atan acute angle pointing in the feed direction, the plane of the acuteangle being normal to the guide surface of plate 4| and normal to themain surfaces of the feed bands. The bands l2 are thrust upward by theshear plate 64 and force the feed bands upward against the lower surfaceof guide plate 4| as an abutment, with gradually increasing force, sothat progressive separation of the bands H, I2, takes place along theseverance lines therebetween in the vicinity of point 65 of theseparator.

It will be understood that the continuous webs or worksheets in the formof strips 8, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, may be supplied in theform of a roll instead of the pile of folded sections, Fig. 6.

It is further to be understood that the illustration of the tabulatingmachine is largely conventional, inasmuch as the invention relates moreespecially to the feed band separator and feeding mechanism adapted foruse with the machine, or as an attachment for the machine. The detailsof the tabulating machine are, of course, such as may be found incommercial machines.

While the invention is intended particularly for use in separating thefeed band portion from the record receiving band portion of a manifoldassembly of superposed strips, it will be understood that the method andmeans described herein, may also be useful for separating the feed bandfrom the record receiving band of a single strip of the manifold typeunassembled with other strips.

Since certain changes may be made in the different embodiments of theinvention described above, without departing from the scope thereof, itis intended that all the matter contained in the above description orshown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. The method of separating the feed band portion of a manifold assemblyof superposed record strips from the record receiving band portion ofsaid assembly along weakened severance lines in superposed registrationin said assembly between said portions, said method'including propellingthe feed bands in a direction parallel with said severance lines whileeach strip is' substantially straight laterally from edge to edge,applying to a part of each strip in close proximity to the severanceline therein a gradually increasing force progressing along theseverance line and tending to deflect said part from lateral alignmentwith the main surface of the feed band while propelling the feed bandsin the feed direction, and increasing said force sufficiently to causethe feed band portion of the assembly to separate progressively from therecord receiving band portion thereof.

2. In a machine for separating the feed band portion of a record stripfrom the record receiving portion thereof along a weakened severanceline therein, in combination, means for feeding the strip substantiallyparallel with said severance line, a guide having a surface providing anabutment for limiting movement of the feed band toward the abutment in adirection normal to its main surface and for guiding the feed band inthe feed direction, and a separator element laterally adjacent saidguide and adapted to intersect said strip at the severance linetherein,, said separator element having a separating edge directed alongsaid weakened line and being inclined to said guide surface in such adirection relative to the feed direction as to thrust said feed bandtoward said guide surface with increasing force until the feed bandportion of the strip separates progressively from the record receivingband portion thereof.

3. In a machine for separating the feed band portion of a record stripfrom the record receiving portion thereof along a longitudinal weakenedseverance line therein, in combination, means for feeding the stripsubstantially parallel with said severance line, a guidehaving a surfaceproviding an abutment for limiting movement of the feed band toward theabutment in a direction normal to the main surface of the feed band andfor guiding the feed band in the feed direction, and a separator needlelaterally adjacent said guide and adapted to intersect said strip at theseverance line therein, said needle having a blunt separating edgedirected along said weakened line and making with said guide surface anacute angle pointing in the feed direction.

4. In a machine for separating the feed band portion of a record stripfrom the record receiving portion thereof along a weakened severanceline therein, in combination, a pin feed unit having a row of pins formeshing with perforations through the feed band portion of said stripfor propelling said strip in a direction parallel with said severanceline, a guide adjacent said row of pins for guiding the feed band inproper relation with said pins, and a strip severing device adjacent tobut laterally out of alignment with said row of pins and in the path ofsaid severance line for progressively separating said feed band fromsaid strip while said pin feed unit propels the strip in the feeddirection.

5. The method of separating the feed band portion of selected strips,less than the whole member, in a manifold assembly of superposed recordstrips from the record receiving band' portion of said selected stripsalong weakened severance lines in said assembly between said portionswhile each strip is substantially straight laterally from edge to edge,said method including feeding the feed bands parallel with the severancelines in said strips, applying to each said selected strip at a partthereof in close proximity to the severance line therein a graduallyincreasing force progressing along the severance line and tending todeflect said part from lateral alignment with the surface of the feedband while propelling the feed bands in the feed direction, andincreasing said force until the feed band portion of each said selectedstrip progressively separates from the record receiving band portionthereof, and leavingundisturbed the relation between other bands in saidassembly.

6. In a machine for separating the feed band portion of a strip along aweakened severance line therein, in combination, means for feeding thestrip substantially parallel with said severance line, a guide having asurface providing an abutment for limiting movement of the feed bandtoward the abutment in a direction normal to the main surface of thefeed band and for guiding the feed band in the feed direction, aseparator element laterally adjacent said guide and having a bluntseparating edge directed along said weakened line, and a deflector inthe path of the resulting separated feed band portion of the assemblyfor deflecting said portion away from the record receiving band portionof said assembly.

7. In a machine for separating the feed band from a strip along aweakened severance line therein, in combination, a pin feed unit havinga row of pins for meshing with perforations in the feed band portion ofsaid strip and for propelling the feed band, a feed band guide having aslot therein permitting the unobstructed travel of said pins along theslot, said guide having a surface for guiding the feed band in feedtransmitting relation with the pins propelling the feed band, and aseparator element laterally adjacent said guide having a bluntseparating edge positioned to intersect said strip at the severance linetherein, said guide surface and said separator element having an acuteangle therebetween pointing in the feed direction, the plane of theacute angle being substantially normal to said guide surface.

8. In a machine for separating the feed band from a strip having aweakened severance line, in combination, means for feeding the stripsubstantially parallel with said severance line, a guide plate adjacentsaid mechanism and adapted to guide said feed band in relation with saidfeeding mechanism, said guide plate having a guide ear extendinglaterally over the course of the severance line in the strip being fedby said mechanism, a separator element, said ear having an aperturethrough which said separator element projects into and through thecourse of the severance line in the strip being fed, said separatorelement and the guide surface of said ear having an acute angletherebetween pointing in the feed direction, the edge of said aperturebeing spaced away from said separator element.

9. A separator for strip feeding machines of the character described,including a pair of opposed guide elements having surfaces between whichthe strips are fed, a shear plate laterally adjacent said elements andextending through the course of strips fed between said elements, one ofsaid guide elements having an elongated slot for the accommodation oftraveling feed pins and having a longitudinal edge portion, said shearplate being positioned adjacent to said longitudinal edge portion andcooperating therewith toform a shearing device for shearing the marginalparts from the strips being fed.

10. In a machine of the character described, in combination, feedmechanism for feeding a strip having a longitudinal feed band separatedfrom the strip by a longitudinal weakened severance line, said feedmechanism including a traveling series of feed pins, a plurality ofwhich simultaneously engage with apertures in said feed band at anelongated reach thereof, guide means for guiding said strip and feedband at said elongated reach, and a separator element transecting thecourse of the strip adjacent to said guide and having a dull bluntseparating edge directed in line with said weakened severance line ofthe advancing strip.

11. In a machine of the character described, in combination, feedmechanism for feeding a strip having a longitudinal feed band separatedfrom the strip by a longitudinal weakened severance line, said feedmechanism including a traveling series of feed pins, a pluralityof whichsimultaneously engages with apertures in said feed band at an elongatedreach thereof, guide means for guiding said strip and feed band at saidelongated reach, and a separator element transecting the course of thestrip adjacent to said guide and having a cylindrical separating surfacedirected along the line of said weakened severance line as the strip isfed against the separator element.

12. In a machine for separating during feeding 'of a strip assembly oneor more feed bands from the strips of the assembly along weakenedseverance lines thereof, in combination, means for effecting strip feed,a guide for guiding said feed band or bands during feeding thereof, anda separator element adjacent to said guide and adapted to intersect oneor more selected assembly strips, less than the whole number, at thesaid severance line or lines thereof, said guide and said separatorelement having an acute angle therebetween pointed in the direction offeed, said separator element having a foot projecting laterallytherefrom and laterally of the direction of feed for insertion betweensaid selected strips and the non-selected strips.

13. In a machine of the character described,

in combination, a. pair of strip guide plates having opposed guidesurfaces between which strips having feed apertures are fed and guided,strip feed pins running adjacent to one of said guide plates andengaging in said strip feed apertures to effect strip feed, and a stripseparator element secured in operative position on one of said guideplates adjacent to said feed pins when in strip feeding engagement andprojecting into and through the course of the feeding strips. I

14. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means forguiding and feeding strips having pin feed apertures, said strip feedingmeans including feed pins positioned to engage in said feed apertures toeffect strip feed. and a strip separator element secured in operativeposition adjacent to said feed pins when in strip feeding engagement andprojecting into and through the course of the feeding strip.

15. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means forguiding and feeding a strip having pin feed apertures arranged in alongitudinal series and having a longitudinal weakened severance lineadjacent to the feed apertures, said strip feeding means including feedpins positioned to engage in said feed apertures to effect strip feed,and a strip separator element secured in operative position adjacent tosaid feed pins when in strip feeding engagement, and projecting into andthrough the course of the feeding strip, said separator element having ablunt separating edge directed along the line of said weakened severanceline when the strip is fed by said feed pins against the separatorelement.

16. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a pair ofstrip guide plates having opposed guide surfaces between which stripshaving feed, apertures are fed and guided, means for mounting one ofsaid guide plates for movement into guiding position and intoinoperative position away from the strips, strip feed pins runningadjacent to said movably mounted guide plate and engaging in said stripfeed aperures to effect strip feed,and a strip separator element securedin operative position on said movably mounted guide plate adjacent tosaid feed pins when in strip feeding engagement and projecting into andthrough the course of the feeding strips.

CARL R. MABON.

DISCLAIMER 2,208,994.Oarl R. Mabon, Niagara Falls, N. Y. FEED BANDSEPARATOR FOR STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM. Patent dated July 23, 1940.Disclaimer filed July 24, 1947, by the assignee, Moore Business Forms,Inc. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 4, 10, 14, and 15, and toclaim 11 of said patent except as to the limitation cylindricalappearing therein.

[Ofiicial Gazette September 23, 1.947.]

